Author: Akin Naphtal

A new program that will benefit over 180 million people by 2032 is poised to significantly increase access to the internet and the inclusive use of digitally enabled services and transform the digital landscape in Eastern and Southern Africa. Digitalization is one of the most potent tools available today to eradicate poverty on a livable planet. Yet, the Eastern and Southern Africa region has the slowest pace of digitalization globally, with only 64 per cent of the population covered by high-speed internet, and just 24 per cent of the population using the internet as of 2023. To accelerate digitalization, the…

By Huawei In Shenzhen, which is one of the most efficient cities in China, the time needed for new enterprise registration and approval is less than one minute. Governments worldwide are seeing the value of strengthening their digital infrastructure to better deliver innovative and inclusive e-services. In establishing e-government services with the help of Huawei, headquartered in Shenzhen, 53 government departments in the city have been able to migrate more than 230 core services to the cloud. Around the world, more governments are seeing the value of digital and intelligent transformation. By strengthening their digital infrastructure, they can better deliver…

Worldline [Euronext: WLN], a global leader in payment services, has announced a strategic partnership with Preferred Hotels & Resorts, a globally renowned brand dedicated to supporting independent luxury hotels, resorts, and residences for over 50 years. This collaboration marks a significant step forward in streamlining payment processes and elevating the guest experience within the luxury hospitality segment, benefiting more than 600 member properties across 80 countries. Through this alliance, Worldline aims to offer a broad range of solutions, including eCommerce and Acquiring services, with a strong focus on Europe, to meet and exceed the expectations of hospitality customers. The integration…

Ghana’s Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation, through the eTransform project, has made significant strides in enhancing connectivity across Ghana, bolstering the country’s digital infrastructure, and ensuring it has access to high-speed internet and modern communication tools. Launched in January 2015, the eTransform Project is a government initiative funded with World Bank support. The project was restructured in January 2018 to accelerate the attainment of its development objectives, which focus on improving the efficiency and coverage of government service delivery using information and communication technology (ICT). The eTransform Project, a cornerstone of the Digital Ghana Agenda, focuses on several key areas:…

Cognite, a leader in data and artificial intelligence (AI) solutions, has been awarded the Energy and Resources 2024 Microsoft Partner of the Year Award. This marks the third consecutive year that Microsoft has recognized Cognite for its excellence in delivering impactful, scalable industrial transformations through its core Industrial DataOps platform, Cognite Data Fusion. Girish Rishi, CEO of Cognite, expressed his pride in the company’s achievements, stating, “Cognite continues to lead the charge in global Industrial DataOps, enabling Energy and Resources companies to leverage AI for a transformative digital journey.” Cognite’s unique blend of industry-specific AI capabilities, deep industrial domain knowledge,…

Pyypl, a fintech company operating in the Middle East and Africa (MEA), has teamed up with Visa to offer virtual and physical prepaid Visa cards through its mobile app. This partnership aims to enhance financial inclusion in the region by providing wider access to prepaid Visa cards across various markets. The initiative has received approval from local regulators. The fintech operates in several African and Middle Eastern countries, with a mission to digitize financial services for 850 million underserved smartphone users. The integration of Visa’s virtual cards is expected to significantly broaden access to financial services. “With the support of…

Canada’s BlackBerry has announced that it has exceeded first-quarter revenue estimates as of Wednesday, 26th June, driven by strong demand for cybersecurity services amid increasing online threats. The company’s U.S.-listed shares surged 7.2% in after-hours trading following the announcement. BlackBerry, which offers cybersecurity and data protection services to enterprises and governments, reported quarterly revenue of $144 million, surpassing analysts’ average estimate of $134.1 million, according to LSEG data. Over recent months, notable companies including CDK, UnitedHealth Group’s Change Healthcare unit, and Live Nation Entertainment’s Ticketmaster unit have experienced large-scale data breaches. Despite a broader slowdown in tech spending, these high-profile…

The reality of COVID-19 has become an eye-opener, pushing organizations of the brick-and-mortar era—if you like, the analogue era—to penetrate and leverage the digital space. The world is now embracing communication software designed for the seamless transmission of information across various channels. During the ravaging pandemic, which forced the world into lockdown, certain communication software emerged into the limelight and became essential tools for business. These applications help corporate bodies remotely transmit files in multiple formats between computers. These software applications are integral components of communication systems within the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) Model, which enables diverse communication systems to…

Amazon.com plans to introduce a new section on its shopping site that will feature inexpensive items shipped directly to international consumers from warehouses in China, according to a report by The Information on Wednesday. This move is Amazon’s response to the rising popularity of bargain sites like Temu and Shein. The new marketplace will offer unbranded fashion, home goods, and daily necessities, with products expected to be delivered to customers within 9 to 11 days, the report stated, based on slides shown to Chinese sellers. In a recent closed-door meeting, Amazon informed Chinese sellers that it would begin signing up…

Israel is set to launch a tender to establish the country’s first supercomputer, aiming to maintain its position as a global leader in artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, according to CEO of the state-backed Israel Innovation Authority, Dror Bin. Bin made the announcement on Wednesday, 26th June at an AI conference. He stated that the supercomputer will be launched in July. While AI has been beneficial for Israel’s tech sector, Bin warned that it could become a liability if proactive measures are not taken, given the rapid evolution of AI technology. The Israeli government has allocated $250 million for a national…